Alarming fraud: Seniors in Hattingen are becoming a target!

Alarming fraud: Seniors in Hattingen are becoming a target!

in Hattingen, a tranquil city in the Ruhr area, an older man was victim to a sophisticated fraud with his bank card. The 84-year-old received a call from a supposed bank employee who pretended that he had illegal debit from his account. Out of concern for his finances, the senior fell into the mesh, which had similar methods to a previous incident with a 96-year-old Hattingen woman who had only recently happened. The fraudster, a young man, announced that a real bank employee would come by to block the card and had the bank card and the man's pin handed over. The senior's distrust caused him to inform his daughter, who happily informed him about the fraud. Thanks to their Intervention, worse things were prevented, reports Radio Ennepe Ruhr

The incident is part of a worrying trend that not only affects Hattingen. Statistics show that fraudsters are increasingly using the familiarity and financial prosperity of seniors. From January to May 2024 alone, the financial losses due to fraud against older people were $ 1.6 billion, which corresponds to about $ 300 million more than in the previous year. In 2023, a total of $ 3.4 billion was reported to seniors, with the average loss per victim was $ 33,915. More than 101,000 seniors who are 60 years or older were victims of fraud in the same year. The most common fraud was the tech support fraud, which almost 18,000 people fell victim to. These alarming numbers come from an analysis of VPNRANKS .

The increase in fraud cases in seniors

In recent years, various types of fraud have become more popular, especially in older people. In 2023, the fraud in seniors rose by 14%, while financial losses increased by 11%. Forecasts indicate that the number of fraud victims could increase to around 121,229 by 2025 with potential losses that could increase to around $ 4.47 billion. Experts strongly advise to strengthen sensitization and protective measures and to point out the vulnerability of the older generation.

In addition to these trends, current research show that age -related changes in the brain make seniors more susceptible to fraud. According to a study by Binghamton University, two brain regions that are decisive for financial management are affected by the effects of age. The lower turn of the forehead and the prefrontal cortex are affected, which means that seniors rather make mistakes in financial decisions with shrinking these brain regions. It is therefore important to encourage seniors and their relatives, to stay vigilant and take measures to protect themselves, such as through automated payment systems and powers of powers, such as Telepolis emphasized.

to counteract this development, advise experts on lifelong learning and maintaining mathematical skills in order to maintain financial skills in old age. The formation of consciousness over the various fraud stitches is crucial to preserve older people from loss of their financial integrity.